Antibiotics 23,671 rp and 23,672 rp

ABSTRACT

New antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are prepared by cultivating the hitherto unknown microorganism Streptomyces chryseus DS 12,370 (NRRL 3892) under aerobic conditions in an aqueous nutrient medium. The antibiotics are useful, in particular, against staphylococcal infections and tubercular affections.

llnited States Patent [1 1 Mancy et al.

ANTIBIOTICS 23,671 RP AND 23,672 RP Inventors: Denise Mancy, Charenton; Jean Florent; Jean Lune], both of Paris,

all of France Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc S.A., Paris, France Filed: Feb. 23, 1972 Appl. No.: 228,621

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 31, 1974 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,642,985 2/1972 Katagiri 424/120 Primary ExaminerJerome D. Goldberg [57] ABSTRACT New antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are prepared by cultivating the hitherto unknown microorganism Streptomyces chryseus DS 12,370 (NRRL 3892) under aerobic conditions in an aqueous nutrient medium. The antibiotics are useful, in particular, against staphylococcal infections and tubercular affections;

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ANTIBIOTICS 23,671 RP AND 23 ,672 RP This invention relates to two new antibiotics, hereinafter designated by the numbers 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP, to a process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

Antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP possess a high antimicrobial activity, principally against Gram positive microorganisms in particular against staphylococci, as well as against mycobacteria, in particular against the H 37 Rv strain of the tuberculosis bacillus. Furthermore, they have the advantage of having a low mammalian toxicity.

The aforesaid antibiotics are produced by culture in artificial culture media of a microorganism, identified more completely hereinafter, belonging to the genus Streptomyces and designated by the name Streptomyces chryseus, DS 12,370 (NRRL 3892). A specimen of this strain has been deposited with the US. Department of Agriculture, Northern Regional Research Laboratory, at Peoria, Illinois, U.S.A., and has been given the number NRRL 3892; a sample of the microorganism can be obtained from the aforementioned Research Laboratory.

PHYSlCO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ANTIBIOTICS solvents. Melting point (Kofler bench): 130-132C. 7 Optical rotation: [07],, 71.5 t 1.5 (c 1,

methanol) Ultra-Violet spectrum: in methanol solution, it has an absorption maximum at 285 nm (E, 1.04) and an absorption minimum at 252 nm (E, 0.67).

The ultra-violet spectrum of 23,671 RP dissolved in methanol at a concentration of 2,110 ug/cc. is shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings in which the abscissae give the wavelengths expressed in nanometres (lower scale) and the wave numbers in cm" (upper scale) and the ordinate gives the optical densities.

Infra-red spectrum: (determined with tablets of a mixture with KBr).

This spectrum is shown in FIG. 2 in which the abscissae give the wavelengths expressed in microns (upper scale) and the wave numbers in cm (lower scale), and the ordinate gives the optical densities.

The principal infra-red absorption bands of 23,671 RP, expressed as wave numbers (cm), are given in Table 1 which follows.

Table l-Continued 1,735 vS 1,1'15 S 725 vw m medium 1,710 sh 1,095 sh 700 w w weak 1,630 m 1,080 v5 660 sh vw very weak 1,455 S 1,060 S 645 sh sh shoulder 1,412 m 1,035 sh 600 w 1,375 S 1,000 S 500 w 1,350 m 985 sh 455 m 1,345 sh 965 m 420 w 1,330 m 920 rn 395 w Chromatographic Migrations When chromatographed on a thin layer of a mixture of kieselgel H and alumina H (-25%) under the following conditions:

deposition of pg of antibiotic as the source development with pure ethyl acetate in a saturated cell at 22C and revelation by spraying with concentrated sulphuric acid, 23,671 RP has an Rf of 0.26.

When chromatographed on a thin layer of Merck silica gel F 254 and developed with the system ethyl acetate-chloroform-acetone (l-l-l by volume) and revealed under the above conditions, 23,671 RP has an Rf of 0.62.

Antibiotic 23,672 RP is characterised by the follow ing physico-chemical properties:

Appearance: white crystalline powder.

Elementary analysis: it consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the following proportions: C i 58.6 58.7%, H 8.4 8.5%, O 32.6 32.8%

Solubility: it is practically insoluble in water at 20C;

it is soluble in alcohols, acetone, diethyl ether, dimethylformamide and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents.

Melting point (Kofler bench): 153 155C Optical rotation: [al 71 :1.5(c =1,methanol) Ultra-violet spectrum: in methanol solution, it has an absorption maximum at 285 nm (E,,,,,,% 0.67) and an absorption minimum at 254 nm (E, 0.40).

The ultra-violet spectrum of 23,672 RP dissolved in methanol at concentrations of 10.6, 106 and 1,155 ug/cc. is shown in FIG. 3 in which the abscissae give the wavelengths expressed in nanometres (lower scale) and the wave numbers in cm (upper scale) and the ordinate gives the optical densities.

Infra-red spectrum: (determined with tablets of a mixture with KBr).

This spectrum is shown in FIG. 4 in which the abscissae give the wavelengths expressed in microns (upper scale) and the wave numbers in cm (lower scale) and the ordinate gives the optical densities.

The principal infra-red absorption bands of 23,672 RP, expressed as wave numbers (cm"), are given in Table 11.

Table ll-Continued Table Ill-Continued 1,450 S 1.025 sh 595 m sh shoulder g E 2 Minimum bacteriostatic 7 7 concentrations m "A "I: 5 Bacterial organisms tested s /cc. 912: S 23,671RP 23,672 RP Klebsiella pneumoniae ATTC 10,031 200 200 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Bass strain 200 200 e Institut Pasteur) a -11 b h CN 387- 200 2 Chromatographic Migrations ;f, ,,,",,i,,'f,i" 0

- 1O Pasteurella mulmcida (A 125 -1nstitut 200 200 When chromatographed on a thin layer of a mixture Pasteur) of kieselgel H and alumina H (75 25%) under the Mywplasma gallireprivum 3 same conditions as antibiotic 23,671 RP, with ethylacetate as the e1uent,23,672 RP has an Rf of 0.17. Th d h h h When chromatographed on a thin layer of Merck sil- 5 f 3 21 9 gg g ig j gg 's ica gel F 254 and developed with ethyl acetate, 23,672 6 5 t h a? RP has a Rf of 0.38, and when developed with the sysy k i mlcrowgamsbms w accegt e tern ethyl acetate-chloroform-acetone (1-1-1 by vol- Gram Stam' urt f w It can 6 seen mm t e ume) it has an Rf of O 50 suits of the determinations that 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP in vitro show a cross-resistance with carbomycin, ANTIBIOTIC ACTIVITY AND TOXICITY erythromycin and pyostacin, but not with spiramycin. A. Bacteriostatic activity in vitro z l if g gf g E 672 RP t The bacteriostatic activity of 23,671 RP and 23,672 M t l H 3 d t t RP against a certain number of microorganisms was deg f "2. th t l efermme termined by one of the dilution methods usually em- 25 a 5 f me i g g ployed for this purpose. For each microorganism, the l S 0 ese 6 ermma long are minimum concentration of antibiotic, which under glven m a e specified conditions inhibits all visible development Table IV of the microorganism in an appropriate nutrient broth, was determined. The results of the various determina- Antibiotic Inhibitory concentration with regard to H 37 Rv tions are given in Table III below wherein the minimum 1*) bacteriostatic concentrations of the antibiotics are ex- 23,67 RP 06 (L25) pressed in micrograms of antibiotic per cc. of test me- 2 RP 25 (5 dlum' The first number indicates the concentration at which the main inhibition of T the culture is achieved; the second number (in parentheses) indicates the a 8 concentration at which total inhibition is achieved.

Minimum bacteriostatic 23,671 RP is twice as active as 23,672 RP. Bacterial organisms tested z z The in vitro activity of 23,671 RP was measured in 23 en RP 23 672 RP 40 relation to mycobacteria resistant to various antibiotics, so as to demonstrate any cross-resistance. Despite g pzyf t i s 8-38 2 very slight activity differences from one strain to anfgf f' f g f g 5 ram other, 23,671 RP retains its activity against strains Staphylococcus aureus, strain 209 0.38- 0.54 which are highly resistant to rifampicin, streptomycin, P-ATCC 6.538 P Staphylococcus aureus, strain 209 200 200 ngomycm and k and against whlph are P-ATCC 6,538 P, rendered resistant moderately resistant to viomycin and griselimycin. to carbomycin T i it 1 170 g'f'g g ggg ,iffggflfifijfl 23,671 RP 15 moderately toxic and 23,672 RP 15 practo erythromycin tically atoxic, as is shown by the results below in which gfflgg g gfi gig gz g 036 LD is the 50% lethal dose. The acute toxicity was dem spiramyin termined in mice using oral administration and subcu- Staphylococcus aureus, strain 209 48 taneous d i i t ti P-AT 6, d t f f f P 23,671 RP: L1) 750 mg/kg animal body weight garcin mea -f C 9 790 2 administered subcutaneously treplucoccus new is A Streptococcus viridans (lnstitut 8.3 6.7 55 585 mg/kg ammal body welght admlmstered Pasteur) orally Streptococcus pyogenes haemolyricux 0.19 0.24 23 672 RP: LD atoxic at 2 500 /k i l (Dig 7 strain, Institut Pasteur) t; h d l Diplococcus pneumaniae (Til strain, 2.3 1.1 y f t admlmstere Subcutaneous y gtstit u s tey ATCC 6 633 0 5 0 35 atoxic at 2,500 mg/kg animal body weight admin- UC! S S H II Bacillus cereus ATCC 6,630 0.05 0.10 0 f Mycobaclerium species Arcc 607 0.52 0.42 D. Anti-Microbial Activity in Vivo y i f gggg" F -3 The activity of the two antibiotics against experimengschm-chia ATC; 9,637 200 200 tal (intraperitoneal) infection of mice with staphyloi w 511188 200 cocci was determined orally and subcutaneously.

8S eur salmonella paralyphi A (Lacasse, 200 200 The curative dose (CD 1.8. the dose which cures Institut Pasteur) 50% of the infected mice, in the treatment of the stapht il 'i' t't'g fic ll'tlilii'til i ii't i'i 200 200 ylococcal infection are shown in Table V in mg/kg ani- Proleus vulgan': 200 200 mal body weight.

Table V tics of the strainsfo Streptomyces, the cultures on agar medla being carried out on agar slopes. A certain num- 23671 RP 23,672 RP ber of the culture media employed were prepared in accordance with the formulations lndlcated in The Actl- Administered Administered Administered Administered 5 nomycetes, S. A. Waksman, p. l93l97, Chronica T g g g Botanica Company, Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.,

5 1950; in this case they are indicated by the letter W followed by the number given to them in The Actinomy- A tijr b l Activity in Vivo cetes. The references or compositions of the other The activities in vivo of 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP Culture as follOWSI were determined in mice infected with a virulent A Hlckey T s Agar human strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ham et Antlbloncs Annual 1956'1957' At doses of between 100 and 200 mg/kg animal body R 5% K L J J 1 3 t I weight administered subcutaneously and between 100 Z Ones Ouma 0 ac eno Ogy and 250 mg/kg animal body weight administered orally, the antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP significantly Formula W-23 wlth the addmon of 2% of prolong the life of the treated animals as compared to g D Yeast Extract Agar" T G. Pridham at of h gf 23 671 RP COll. Antibiotics Annual, 1956-1957, p. 950

e Organism 1c uces an 1 10 Ref. E Tomato Paste Oatmeal Agar T. G. and 23,672 RP is a straln of Streptomyces Which was Pridham et c0 Antibiotics Annual isolated from a sample of soil taken in India: to the or- 19564957 p 950 ganism has been given the number DS 12,370. This mi- Ref F formation medium" The Acth croorganism exhibits characteristics which preclude it nomycetes VOL 2 333 42 waksman from be ng identified with any prevlously described The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, species, it must therefore be considered a new species 1961 and has been given the name Streptomyces chryseus. Ref G w. Grundy et COIL Antibiotics and Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 forms cylin- Chem 2 401 1952 drical spores measuring 0.3 to 0.4 u/O.8 to 1.4 a. The Ref H Inorganic Salts Starch Agar M G. sporiferous filaments are straight or slightly flexuous pridham COIL Antibiotics Annual, and are most frequently inserted singly on the filaments 19564957 951 which carry them; they are sometimes relatively short Rah I corresponds to formula W4, with 3% of but can be of greater length and can carry up to several crose replaced by 15% of glucose tens of spores. By its mode of sporulation, this strain is Ref. J corresponds to formula W4, with 3% f to be classified under the Rectus-Flexibilis section of crose replaced by 5% f glycerihe the Prdham classlficatlon- Ref. K Corresponds to formula W-18, with 3% of Streptomyces chryseus, Strain DS 12,370 develops sucrose replaced by 5% f glucose well at 25C, fairly well at 37C, less well at 45C and R f L Col-responds to f l W43 with the not at all at 5000 It does not Produce a melahlh Pi crose omitted and replaced by small strips of filter ment on organic media. The colour of its vegetative paper partially immersed in the liquid mycelium is a persistent yellow, generally in shades of R f M Manual f Methods f p Culture hght chrome yellow to p Chrome l It Study of Bacteria of the Society of Amercian Bacusually rather sparse white aerial mycellum; t'l'llS aerial tel-iolog-istsy Geneva, NY [[50 mycelium remains white when sporulation occurs, g N p Gelatin prepared in accordance which y takes P slowly and with difficuhy the 45 with the instructions in the Manual of Methods media on which it PP 0 for Pure Culture Study of Bacteria" of the Scoiety The cultural characteristics and the blochemlcal fA i Bacteriologismgeneva,N Y 1 1 Properties of Srrepwmyces chryseus, Straw D5 37 Ref. P Commercially available skimmed milk poware given in Table fOllOWS. Unless Otherwise de reconstituted in accordance the manufac. indicated, they are those of cultures which have turers instructions reached a good state: of p h i that h? Say, of Ref. Q Medium indicated for the investigation of 3 weeks to 1 month at 25C. These characteristics were production f 5 by Tresher and observed on nutrient agars and broths usually em- Dahga Journal f Bacteriology, 7 3944 ployed for determining the morphological characteris- 953 TABLE VI Aerial structure Degree of Vegetative mycelium (V.m.) (comprising the combination Observations and developor of the aerial mycelium and biochemical Culture medium ment underside of the culture of the sporulation) Soluble pigment properties Hickey and Good V.m. thick and wrinkled, White Nil Tresner agar deep chrome yellow Very poorly developed (R f. A) BCTII'ICII agar Good V.m. thick and wrinkled. White Very weak (Ref. F) deep chrome yellow Very slight traces. Brownish yellow Emerson agar (iood V.m. thick and wrinkled, White Nil (Ref. (i deep chrome yellow Very slight traces. Pritlhalu yeast (iood V.m. thick and wrinkled, Nil Nil extract agar deep chrome yellow TABLE VI Continued Aerial structure Degree of Vegetative mycelium (V.m.) (comprising the combination Observations and developor of the aerial mycelium and biochemical Culture medium ment underside of the culture of the sporulation) Soluble pigment properties (Ref. ID) Pridham oatmeal Good V.m. thick and wrinkled. White Nil and tomato agar light brown-yellow Very poorly developed. (Ref. E) Glucose-peptone Good Underside brown-yellow White. Very weak yellowagar (W-6) Fairly well developed. brown Nutrient agar Moderate V.m. light yellow-brown Nil Nil Tyrosine-yeast Fairly good Underside light yellow White. Nil Formation of extract agar for Moderately developed. melanin: negative melanin forma- (observations made tion (Ref. F) in accordance with the recommendations of the author) Krainsky calcium Very Underside light brown-yellow White. Nil Solubilisation of the malate agar moderate Poorly developed. malate: positive. (Ref. U) fairly good. Ovalbumin agar Very poor V.m. weak yellowish. Nil Nil (W-IZ) Very poorly developed. (ilucose-aspara- Medium V.m. light chrome yellow. Nil Weak brownish gine agar (W-Z) yellow Glycerine- Fairly good V.m. deep chrome yellow. White. Weak brownish asparagine agar in traces. yellow (W-3) Pridham starch Good V.m. thick and wrinkled. White. Nil Cylindrical spores agar (Ref. H) deep chrome yellow. Very poorly developed. measuring 0.3 to

O.4p./O.8 to 1.4;!" Straight or flexuous spore ferous filaments. Hydrolysis of starch: positive. Starch-nitrate Good V.m. thick and wrinkled. White. Nil Hydrolysis of agar (W- 10) light brown-yellow. ln traces. starch: positive.

Underside deep chrome yellow. 7 Czapek synthetic Good V.m. thick and wrinkled. White. Weak yellow-brown agar with light chrome yellow. Very poorly developed. sucrose (W Underside deep chrome yellow. Czapek synthetic Fairly good Underside light chrome yellow. White. Weak yellow-brown agar with Very poorly developed. glucose (Ref. 1) Y Czapek synthetic Good Underside deep chrome yellow. White. Weak'brown-yellow Cylindrical spores agar with Very moderately developed. measuring 0.3 to glycerine (Ref. J) 0.4u/0.8 to 1.4;/..

Straight or flexuous sporiferous filaments. Starch-nitrate Fairly good Thick velum. White. Nil Production of broth (W- 19) Underside yellow. Very moderately developed. nitrites from nitrates:

strongly positive. Czapek broth Medium Whitish velum. 1 White. Nil Production of with sucrose Moderately developed. nitrites from nitrates: (W- l8) strongly positive. Czapek broth Medium Whitish velum. White. Nil Production of with glucose Very moderately developed. nitrites from nitrates: (Ref. K) strongly positive. Czapek broth Nil No utilisation of the with cellulose cellulose. (Ref. L) Nutrient broth Fairly good Velum fairly well developed. White. Nil Production of with nitrate Underside yellowish. Moderately developed. nitrites from nitrates: (Ref. M) strongly positive. Culture on Very good V.m. very thick and very White. Weak brownish potato (W-27) wrinkled. chrome yellow. ln traces. 12% strength Good Thick central colony. White. Nil Good liquefaction pure gelatin Underside light yellow. Average development. of the gelatin. (Ref. N) Skimmed milk Good Light yellowish ring. Peptonisation a) at 25C followed by coagu- (Ref. P) lation. Little variation of the pH. Skimmed milk Moderate Poorly developed yellow ring. Coagulation followed b) at 37C by peptonisation.

Very slight acidification of the pH. Tresner and Good V.m. yellow. White. Very weak Production of H 5: Danga agar Poorly developed. brownish negative (observa- (Ref. Q)

tions made in accordance with the recommendations of the author).

Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 shows a combination of characteristics which do not coincide exactly with any of those of the strains of Streptomyces previously described.

Amongst the species of which a description is given in Bergeys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology (7th edition, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1961) as well as in The Actinomycetes (Volumne 2, S. A. Waksman, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1961), the species to which it would come closest in respect of its characteristics is, in either of these works, Streptomyces achromogenes.

In fact, like S. chryseus, strain DS 12,370, S. achromogenes produces a brown soluble pigment essentially on synthetic media and does not produce it, or only produces it very slightly, on the majority of organic media; it forms straight or flexuous non-coiled sporophores and its spores are cylindrical.

However, S. achromogenes shows a vegetative mycelium of colourless to brownish or yellowish brown shade depending on the media, even ranging to reddish brown on egg media and these colourations are not comparable with the marked chrome yellow which colours the vegetative mycelium of Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 on all media, including both synthetic and organic media, on which it has been cultured. Furthermore, S. achromogenes, contrary to S. chryseus, strain DS 12,370, forms and aerial mycelium which attains a deep greyish shade on glycerol nitrate agar,,produces a reddish-brown soluble pigment on potato and a light brown soluble pigment on geletin and only liquefies the latter very slightly. It is for these reasons that these two strains, though they resemble one another in certain points, cannot be considered similar.

The ability of S. chryseus, strain DS 12,370 to utilise various sources of carbon and nitrogen to ensure its development was determined in accordance with the principle of the method of Pridham and Gottlieb (J. of Bact. 56, 107-114, 1948). The degree of development was observed on the base medium indicated by the authors, either replacing the glucose by the various sources of carbon respectively tested or (NI-1.0 50 by the various sources of nitrogen respectively tested, after a suitable incubation time at 25C. The results are given in TAble Vll.

delayed According to a feature of the invention, the antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are produced by aerobically cultivating Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 (NRRL 3892), or a mutant thereof capable of producing the antibiotics, using an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances and isolating the antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP formed during the culture.

The culture of Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 can be carried out by any of the known aerobic surface or submerged culture methods, the latter being preferred because they are more convenient. Conventional types of apparatus currently employed in the fermentation industry may be employed. In particular, the following sequence of operations maybe adopted:

Streptomyces chryscus, DS 12,370st0ck culture on agar culture in an agitated flask inoeulum culture in a lermenter production culture in a fermenter The fermentation medium must contain an assimilable source of carbon and an assimilable source of nitrogen, and inorganic substances and, optionally, growthpromoting factors, all these ingredients may be supplied as well-defined products or complex mixtures such as those found in biological products of various origins.

As sources of assimilable carbon there may be used carbohydrates such as glucose, maltose, dextrins, starch or other carbon-, hydrogenand oxygencontaining substances such as sugar alcohols, e.g. glycerol or mannitol, or certain organic acids. Certain animal or vegetable oils such as lard oil or soya bean oil may be advantageouslyused instead of, or in admixture with, the aforementioned carbon hydrogenand oxygen-containing substances.

The suitable sources of assimilable nitrogen are extremely varied. They may be very simple chemical compounds such as inorganic or organic ammonium salts, urea or certain amino acids. They may also be complex substances containing principally nitrogen in a protein form, e.g. casein, lactalbumin, gluten and their hydrolysates, soya bean flour, peanut meal, fish meal, meat extract, yeast extract, distillers solubles or corn-steep liquor.

Amongst the inorganic substances, some may have a buffering or neutralising effect such as the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal phosphates, or the carbonates of calcium or magnesium Others contribute to the ionic equilibrium needed for the development of Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 and for the production of 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP; examples of these are the chlorides and sulphates of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. Some of them act more especially as activators of the metabolism of Streplomyces chryseus, for example the salts of zinc, cobalt, iron, copper and manganese.

The pH of the fermentation medium at the start of the culture should be between 6.0 and 7.8 and preferably between 6.5 and 7.5 The optimum fermentation temperature is 2530C, but satisfactory production is achieved at temperatures between 23 and 33C. The rate of aeration of the fermentation broth can vary within quite wide limits, but it has been found that aeration rates of 0.3 to 3 litres of air per litre of broth per minute are particularly suitable. The maximum yield of the antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP is obtained after 2 to 8 days culture, but this period depends predominantely on the medium used.

23,671 RP and 23,672 RP can be isolated from the fermentation broths as follows:

The mixture of the two antibiotics is directly extracted from the fermentation broths by waterimmiscible solvents, such as aliphatic alcohols having at least 4 carbon atoms (e.g. butanol), esters (e.g. ethyl acetate), chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g. dichloroethane, methylene chloride or chloroform), and ketones (e.g. methyl isobutyl ketone). It is advantageous to carry out this operation at pH 7 or at a slightly alkaline pH.

After filtration of the broths and decantation of the antibiotic solution, the crude mixture can be isolated from the above-mentioned organic solutions by concentration of the solution under reduced pressure, followed by precipitation of the antibiotics with a nonsolvent or a poor solvent for them, such as hexane.

The antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP can be isolated from the organic extracts of the fermentation broths, after concentration of these-extracts if required, by applying appropriate chromatographic techniques. A convenient procedure consists of fractionating the mixture resulting from the extraction of the broth by passing it over a Florisil column (magnesium silicate) eluted by a solvent gradient with a system based on chlorinated solvents. This first fractionation, guided by chromatographic analysis of the eluate on a thin layer of Kieselgel (silica gel), yields two fractions: fraction A, enriched in 23,671 RP and still containing some 23,672 RP, and fraction B with a high proportion of 23,672 RP and still containing some 23,671 RP.

The fraction A is in turn fractionated by chromatog-' tected by chromatographic analysis on a thin layer of I Kieselgel. 23,671 RP is finally purified by recrystallisation from a diethyl ether-hexane mixture followed by washing the crystals with diisopropyl ether.

Fraction B is also fractionated in order to isolate 23,672 RP by again passing it over a Florisil column eluted with a series of solvents of increasing polarities, based on chlorinated solvents and ethyl acetate. The fractional elution is followed by chromatographic analysis on a thin layer of Kieselgel and the isolated 23,672 RP is purified by recrystallisation from a diethyl etherhexane mixture followed by recrystallisation from carbon tetrachloride.

The following Examples illustrate the invention.

In the following, the activity is always determined by means of the-microbiological diffusion method, using Staphylococcus aureus 209 P (ATCC 6,538 P) as the sensitive microorganism, by comparison with a semipurified sample of 23,671 RP taken as the determination standard and containing 640 ug/mg.

This activity is expressed in ug/mg in the case of the solids. The activity of 23,672 RP is also expressed in ug/mg; in so doing, account is also taken of the fact that in the diffusion method, 23,671 RP is 4 times more active than 23,672 RP against Staphyloccus aureus 209 P.

EXAMPLE I A l-litre fermenter is charged with peptone 600 g. meat extract 600 g. Cerelose 1200 g. sodium chloride 600 g. agar 240 g. tap water, sufficient to make up to [10 litres.

The pH is adjusted to 7.50 with l0N sodium hydroxide solution (140 cc.). The medium is sterilised by bubbling steam at 122C through it for 40 minutes. After cooling, the volume of the broth is litres and the pH is 6.90. The broth is inoculated with a culture (200 cc.) of Streptomyces chryseus, DS 12, 370 (NRRL 3,892) in a shaken Erlenmeyer flask. The culture is'developed at 30C for 26 hours with agitation and aeration with sterile air; it is then suitable for inoculation of the production culture.

The production culture is csrried out in a 800-litre fermenter charged with the following substances:

distillers' Solubles 2 kg. princesse beans 16 kg. glycerine 4 kg. sodium chloride 2 kg. tap water, sufficient to make up to 360 litres.

The pH is adjusted to 8.25 with 10N sodium hydroxide solution (400 cc.). The medium is sterilised by bubbling steam at 122C through it for 40 minutes. After cooling, a sterile aqueous solution (10 litres) containing Cerelose (4 kg.) is added to the broth.

The total volume of the broth is then 400 litres and the pH is 6.90. The broth is inoculated with the inoculum culture (40 litres) from the l70-litre fermenter described above. The production culture is carried out at 28C for 97 hours with agitation using a motor rotating at 260 revolutions per minute and aeration with a volume of sterile air of 35 m /hour. The pH of the medium is then 7.55 and the volume of the broth is 370 litres.

The amount of antibiotic present is 110 pig/cc.

EXAMPLE 2 Fermentation broth litres) obtained as described in Example 1, and of strength 85 Lg/co, is introduced into a vat equipped with a stirrer. A filtration aid (900 g.) is added and the mixture at pH 7.5 is stirred for quarter of an hour. The mixture is then filtered on a filter equipped with a layer of filtration aid (2 kg.). The filtrate (10 litres) is collected. This filtrate is extracted with butanol (4 litres followed by 3 litres), the mixture being adjusted to pH 7 with a 6N hydrochloric acid solution.

The butanol extract is concentrated to a volume of 100 cc. at 30C under reduced pressure (20 mm Hg). On addition of hexane (1 litre) to the residue, a crude mixture of 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP precipitates which, after washing filtering and drying, weighs 2.1 g and is in the form of a brown amorphous powder of strength 36 ag/mg.

EXAMPLE 3 Fermentation broth (380 litres) obtained as described in Example 1, andof strength 110 pig/co, is introduced into a vat equipped with a stirrer and the pH is adjusted to 8 by addition of a dilute sodium hydroxide solution. Stirring is maintained for half an hour and a filtration aid (30 kg.) is then added. The mixture is filtered on a filter press and the filter cake is washed with water (100 litres) which has been rendered alkaline to pH 8 by means of 6N sodium hydroxide.

The filtrate, the volume of which is 380 litres, is adjusted to pH 7 by means ofa 6N hydrochloric acid solution, stirred for 10 minutes and then extracted in counter-current with methylene chloride (230 litres), using a two-stage centrifuge.

The methylene chloride extract is concentrated under reduced pressure (20 mm Hg) and at 30C to a volume of 1 litre. The methylene chloride concentrate is then passed overa column (diameter: 7.5 cm; height: 65 cm) of Florisil (1.5 kg.). The concentrate passes downwards through the Florisil bed in 3 hours. The column is then washed, always downwards, with methylene chloride litres) at the rate of 1.5 litres per hour. The various effluents are discarded and the column is then eluted by solvent gradient, graduallyadding a mixture litres) of methylene chloride-methanol (95/5 by volume) to methylene chloride (5 litres). The rate of elution is 1.5 litres per hour.

The eluate is fractionated every 500 cc.; 44 fractions are thus obtained. Each fraction is analysed by thin layer chromatography by placing the solution (20 p.l) on a thin layer of Merck F 254 silica gel in a cell saturated with a chloroform-methanol (87/13 by volume) solvent mixture at 22C.; the migrations are revealed by spraying with concentrated sulphuric acid. The Rf values are as follows:

23,671 RP Rf 0.55

23,672 RP Rf= 0.45

In accordance with the results of this analysis, the fractions principally containing 23,671 RP and those principally containing 23,672 RP are separately combined and the two solutions thus obtained are then concentrated to dryness at C under reduced pressure (20 mm Hg).

Crude 23,671 RP (30 g.) in the form ofa light beige amorphous powder of strength 525 ug/mg, and crude 23,672 RP (7 g.) in the form ofa light beige amorphous powder are thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 Crude 23,671 RP (36 g.), prepared according to Example 3 and of strength 815 #g/mg, is dissolved in acetone (180 cc.) with stirring. Kieselgel MERCK F 254 (0.050.2 mm; 220 g.) is added to the acetone solution and the whole is then dried at 45C under reduced pressure (20 mm Hg) for 4 hours.

The residue is deposited at the top of a column (diameter: 5 cm; height: 1 m) of Kieselgel MERCK F 254 (0.050.2 mm; 2 kg.) set up in hexane. The column is successively washed with hexane (5 litres), a hexaneethyl acetate mixture (/25 by volume; 8 litres), a hexane-ethyl acetate mixture (50/50 by volume; 8 litres) and a hexane-ethyl acetate mixture (25 75 by volume; 6 litres). The effluents are discarded.

The column is then eluted with ethyl acetate (12 litres). The eluate is separated into fractions every cc. and the fractions are analysed by thin layer chromatography in accordance with the technique described in Example 3.

The fractions containing 23,671 RP are concentrated to dryness at 30C under reduced pressure (20 mm H lhe antibiotic 23,671 RP (20 g.) is thus obtained in the form of a yellowish amorphous powder substantially of strength 1000 g/mg.

EXAMPLE 5 The column is developed by successively passing the following through it, in sequence:

1. a methylene chloride-diisopropyl ether mixture (1/1 by volume; 1 litre),

2. pure methylene chloride (1 litre),

3. a methylene chloride-chloroform mixture (l/l by volume; 1 litre) 4. pure chloroform (1 litre), and

5. a chloroform-methanol mixture (9/1 by volume; 1

litre).

Five fractions F -F -F -F -F are thus obtained, which are studied by thin layer chromatography in accordance with the technique described in Example 3.

Fraction F is of no interest and is discarded.

Fractions F and F are combined and concentrated to dryness at 30C under reduced pressure (20 mm Hg). Antibiotic 23,671 RP (8.3 g.) is thus obtained in the form of a whitish amorphous powder of strength 1,000 ug/mg.

Fractions F and F are combined and then concentrated to dryness under the same conditions. Antibiotic 23,672 RP (7.2 g.) is thus obtained in the form of a whitish amorphous powder of strength 860 ug/mg.

EXAMPLE 6 Antibiotic 23,671 RP (20 g.), prepared according to Example 5, is dissolved in diethyl ether (400 cc.) with stirring. The solution obtained is clarified by filtration on a fluted filter. Hexane 1,600 cc.) is added slowly to the filtrate with stirring and the resulting mixture left for 2 hours at 4C. The deposited crystals are filtered off, washed and dried. Antibiotic 23,671 RP (18 g.) is thus obtained in the form of a white crystalline powder.

EXAMPLE 7 Crystalline antibiotic 23,671 RP g.), prepared according to Example 6, is suspended in diisopropyl ether (515 cc.) by vigorous stirring for 2 hours. The suspension is then filtered through a sintered glass filter. The product obtained is washed and dried at 50C under reduced pressure (5 mm Hg) for 24 hours.

Antibiotic 23,671 RP (20.2 g.) is thus obtained in the form of a white crystalline powder of strength 1,000

EXAMPLE 8 Crude 23,672 RP (13 g.), prepared in identical manner to that desciribed in Example 3, is dissolved in acetone (1,300 cc.). The acetone solution is decolourised by addition of charcoal 2S (7.1 g.). The decolourised acetone solution is concentrated to dryness at C under reduced pressure (20 mm Hg).

The residue is redissolved in benzene (50 cc.) and the solution poured onto the top of a column (diameter: 1.5 cm; height: 55 cm) of Florisil (500 g.).

The column is successively washed with benzene (2 litres), methylene chloride (3 litres), a methylene chloride-ethyl acetate mixture (95/5 by volume; 2 litres), a methylene chloride-ethyl acetate mixture (90/10 by volume; 2 litres), a methylene chloride-ethyl acetate mixture (80/20 by volume; 2 litres) a methylene chloride-ethyl acetate mixture (50/50 by volume; 5 litres), and ethyl acetate (2 litres).

Several fractions are thus obtained, which are analysed by thin layer chromatography in accordance with the technique described in Example 3,

The fractions rich in 23,672 RP are combined and concentrated to dryness at 30C under reduced pressure (20 mm Hg). Semi-purified 23,672 RP (4 g.) is thus obtained in the form of a whitish amorphous powder.

EXAMPLE 9 23,672 RP (4 g.), prepared according to Example 8, is dissolved in anaesthetic grade diethyl ether (80 cc.). Crystallisation is brought about by the slow addition of hexane (120 cc.). White crystals (2.5 g.) of strength 1,000 ug/mg are thus obtained.

EXAMPLE l0 Crystalline antibiotic 23,672 RP (8 g.), prepared according to Example 9, is suspended in carbon tetra- Antibiotic 23,672 RP (4.2 g.) is thus obtained in the form of a white crystalline powder of strength 1,000 ug/mg.

The present invention includes within its scope pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one of the antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or a compound which may itself be physiologically active, for example another antibiotic.

These compositions may be in any of the pharmaceutical forms known to be suitable for the administration of antibiotics and suitable for the method of administration envisaged.

The proportion of the antibiotic(s) in the compositions may be varied according to the desired therapeutic effect.

In human therapy, the antibiotics of the invention are useful, in particular, against staphylococcal infections and tubercular affections. They can be administered orally, rectally or parenterally with oral administration being preferred. The daily doses are from 250 mg to 3 g. for an adult.

Solid compositions for oral administration include tablets, pills, powders or granules. Such compositions can contain from 0.5 to 95% of the antibiotic admixed with at least one inert diluent such as sucrose, lactose or starch. The compositions may also comprise, as is chloride (800 cc.) by vigorous stirring for 2 hours. The

normal practice, additional substances other than the inert diluents, e.g. lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate. Liquid compositions for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs containing inert diluents commonly used in the art, such as water or liquid paraffin. Besides inert diluents such compositions may also comprise adjuvants, such as wetting, emulsifying and suspending agents, and sweetening and flavouring agents.'The compositions according to the invention, for oral administration, also include capsules of absorbable material such as gelatin containing the antibiotic with or without the addition of diluents or excipients.

Preparations according to the invention for parenteral administration include sterile suspensions or emulsions, or non-aqueous solutions. Examples of suitable solvents or vehicles are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils, in particular olive oil, and injectable organic esters, e.g. ethyl oleate. These compositions may also contain adjuvants, in particular wetting, emulsifying and dispersing agents. They may be sterilised by, for example, filtration through a bacteriaretaining filter, by incorporation in the compositions of sterilising agents, by irradiation or by heating. They may also be manufactured in the form of sterile solid compositions, which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or some other injectable sterilemedium immediately before use.

Compositions for rectal administration are suppositories which contain, in addition to the antibiotic, excipients such as cacao butter or a suitable suppository wax.

The following Example illustrates pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention.

EXAMPLE llv Tablets containing mg of 23,671 RP and having the following composition are prepared in accordance with the usual technique:

23,671 RP 0.100 g wheat starch 0,090 g. colloidal silica 0.008 g. magnesium stearate 0.002 g These tablets can be used in human therapy at the rate of 3 to 20 tablets per day for an adult.

We claim:

1. The antibiotic herein designated 23,671 RP which has the following characteristics: it is a white crystalline powder melting at 130l 32C., which is practically insoluble in water and soluble in alcohols, acetone, diethyl ether, dimethylformamide and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents; it has the elementary composition C 58.45-58.6%, H 8.6-8.7%, O =,31.3531.55%; its optical rotation is [01],, =71.5 i 1.5 (c 1, methanol); its ultra-violet spectrum (determined in methanol solution) shows an absorption maximum at 285 nm (E 1.04) and an absorption minimum at 252 nm (E,.,,, 0.67), and its infra-red spectrum (determined with tablets of a mixture with potassium bromide) shows principal absorption bands as follows: 3,480 strong, 2,980 strong, 2,940 strong, 2,920 shoulder, 2,890 medium, 2,840 weak, 1,735 very strong, 1,710 shoulder, 1,630 medium, 1,455 strong, 1,412 medium, 1,375 strong, 1,350 medium, 1,345 shoulder, 1,330 medium, 1,325 shoulder, 1,295 medium, 1,260 shoulder, 1,235 medium, 1,215 very weak, 1,162 very strong, 1,115 strong, 1,095 shoulder, 1,080 very strong, 1,060 strong, 1,035 shoulder, 1,000 strong, 985 shoulder 965 medium, 920 medium, 905 medium, 870 weak, 835 medium, 805 weak, 780 medium, 745 very weak, 725 very weak, 700 weak, 660 shoulder, 645 shoulder, 600 weak, 500 weak, 455 medium, 420 weak and395 weak.

2. The antibiotic herein designated 23,672 RP which has the following characteristics: it is a white crystalline powder melting at 153155C., which is practically insoluble in water and soluble in alcohols, acetone, diethyl ether, dimethylformamide and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents; it has the elementary composition C 58.658.7%, H 8.48.5%, O 32.632.8%; its optical rotation is =71i l.5(c 1, methanol); its ultra-violet spectrum (determined in methanol solution) shows an absorption maximum at 285 nm (E 0.67) and an absorption minimum at 254 nm (E 0.40), and its infra-red spectrum (determined with tablets of a mixture with potassium bromide) shows principal absorption bands as follows: 3,450 very strong, 3,210 shoulder, 2,965 strong, 2,921 strong, 2,890 shoulder, 2,870 weak, 2,830 shoulder, 2,040 very weak, 1,740 very strong, 1,625 medium, 1,450 strong, 1,405 medium, 1,375strong, 1,347 medium, 1,325 medium, 1,255 weak, 1,240 medium, 1,210

weak, 1,185 shoulder, 1,155 very strong, 1,135 wea'k, 1,108 strong, 1,090 shoulder, 1,075 medium, 1,070 weak, 1,055 very strong, 1,025 shoulder, 995 strong, 975 shoulder, 955 medium, 922 shoulder, 912 medium, 895 weak, 860 weak, 830 medium, 800 weak, 777 medium, 740 very weak, 715 very weak, 692 weak, 655 shoulder, 635 shoulder, 595 medium, 545 medium, 490 medium, 450 medium and 415 shoulder.

3. Process for the production of the antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP which comprises cultivating Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 (NRRL 3,892), in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances, under submerged aerobic cul'ture'conditions commencing at a pH within the range between 6.0 and 7.8 and at a temperature of'between 23 and 33C, until a substantial amount of said antibiotics is formed in the said nutrient medium, and separating the said antibiotics formed during the culture from the nutrient mediuni.

4. Process according to claim 3 in which the pH of the culture medium at the beginning of the culture is between 6.5 and 7.5.

5. Process according to claim 3 in which the temperature of the culture medium is 2530C.

6. Process according to claim 3 in which the culture medium is aerated at a rate of from 0.3 to 3 litres of air per litre of medium per minute.

7. Process according to claim 3 in which 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are separated from the culture medium by extracting the antibiotics with a water-immiscible organic solvent for the antibiotics selected from the group consisting of butanol, ethyl acetate, dichloroethane, methylene chloride, chloroform and methyl isobutyl ketone.

8. Process according to claim 7 in which extraction of the antibiotics from the culture medium is effected with the medium at pH 7 to 7.5.

9. Process according to claim 7 in which 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are isolated from their organic solution by concentrating the solution under sub-atmospheric pressure and precipitating the antibiotics from the concentrate by addition of hexane.

10. Process according toclaim 7 in which 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are isolated separately from the organic solution by chromatography.

11. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises an antibacterially effective amount of at least one of 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the said antibiotic(s) being present in an amount of 0.5 to percent by weight of the composition. 

1. THE ANTIBIOTIC HEREIN DESIGNATED 23,671 RP WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICES: IT SI A WHITE CRYSTALLINE POWDER MELT ING AT 130*-132*C., WHICH IS PRACTICALLY INSOLUBLE IN WATER AND SOLUBLE IN ALCOHOLS, ACETONE, DIETHYL ETHER, DIMETHYFORMAMIDE AND CHLORINATED HYDROCARBON SOLVENTS; IT HAS THE ELEMENTARY COMPOSITION C = 58.45-58.6%, H = 8.6-8.7%, O = 31.35-31.55%; IT OPTICAL ROTATION IS (A)D 24.5 = -71.5* = 1.5* (C =
 1. METHONAL); ITS ULTRA-VIOLET SPECTRUM (DETERMINED IN METHONAL SOLUTION) SHOWS AN ABSORPTION MAXIMUM AT 285 NM (E1CM1% = 0.67), ANDITS INFRA-RED SPECTRUM (DETERMINED WITH CE1CM1% = 0.67) AND ITS INFRA-RED SPECTRUM (DETERMINED WITH TABLETS OF A MIXTURE WITH POTASSIUM BROMIDE) SHOWS PRINCIPAL ABSORPTION BANDS AS FOLLOWS: 3,480 STRONG, 2,980 STRONG, 2,940 STRONG, 2,920 SHOULDER, 2890 MEDIUM, 2,840 WEAK, 1,735 VERY STRONG, 1,710 SHOULDER, 1,630 MEDIUM, 1,455 STRONG, 1,412 MEDIUM, 1,375 STRONG, 1,350 MEDIUM, 1,455 STRONG, 1,330 MEDIUM, 1,325 SHOULDER, 1,295 MEDIUM, 1260 SHOULDER, 1,235 MEDIUM, 1,215 VERY WEAK, 1,162 VERY STRONG , 1,115 STRONG, 1095 SHOULDER, 1,080 VERY STRONG, 1,060 STRONG, 1,115 SHOULDER, 1,000 STRONG, 985 SHOULDER 965 MEDIUM, 920 MEDIUM, 905 MEDIUM, 870 WEAK, 835 MEDIUM, 805 WEAK, 780 MEDIUM, 745 VERY WEAK, 725 VERY WEAK, 700 WEAK, 660 SHOULDER, 645 SHOULDER, 600 WEAK, 500 WEAK, 455 MEDIUM, 420 WEAK AND 395 WEAK.
 2. The antibiotic herein designated 23,672 RP which has the following characteristics: it is a white crystalline powder melting at 153*-155*C., which is practically insoluble in water and soluble in alcohols, acetone, diethyl ether, dimethylformamide and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents; it has the elementary composition C 58.6- 58.7%, H 8.4- 8.5%, O 32.6- 32.8%; its optical rotation is ( Alpha )D24.5 -71* + or -1.5*(c 1, methanol); its ultra-violet spectrum (determined in methanol solution) shows an absorption maximum at 285 nm (E1cm1% 0.67) and an absorption minimum at 254 nm (E1cm1% 0.40), and its infra-red spectrum (determined with tablets of a mixture with potassium bromide) shows principal absorption bands as follows: 3,450 very strong, 3,210 shoulder, 2,965 strong, 2,921 strong, 2, 890 shoulder, 2,870 weak, 2,830 shoulder, 2,040 very weak, 1,740 very strong, 1,625 medium, 1,450 strong, 1,405 medium, 1,375 strong, 1,347 medium, 1,325 medium, 1,255 weak, 1,240 medium, 1, 210 weak, 1,185 shoulder, 1,155 very strong, 1,135 weak, 1,108 strong, 1,090 shoulder, 1,075 medium, 1,070 weak, 1,055 very strong, 1,025 shoulder, 995 strong, 975 shoulder, 955 medium, 922 shoulder, 912 medium, 895 weak, 860 weak, 830 medium, 800 weak, 777 medium, 740 very weak, 715 very weak, 692 weak, 655 shoulder, 635 shoulder, 595 medium, 545 medium, 490 medium, 450 medium and 415 shoulder.
 3. Process for the production of the antibiotics 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP which comprises cultivating Streptomyces chryseus, strain DS 12,370 (NRRL 3,892), in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic substances, under submerged aerobic culture conditions commencing at a pH within the range between 6.0 and 7.8 and at a temperature of between 23* and 33*C, until a substantial amount of said antibiotics is formed in the said nutrient medium, and separating the said antibiotics formed during the culture from the nutrient medium.
 4. Process according to claim 3 in which the pH of the culture medium at the beginning of the culture is between 6.5 and 7.5.
 5. Process according to claim 3 in which the temperature of the culture medium is 25* - 30*C.
 6. Process according to claim 3 in which the culture medium is aerated at a rate of from 0.3 to 3 litres of air per litre of medium per minute.
 7. Process according to claim 3 in which 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are separated from the culture medium by extracting the antibiotics with a water-immiscible organic solvent for the antibiotics selected from the group consisting of butanol, ethyl acetate, dichloroethane, methylene chloride, chloroform and methyl isobutyl ketone.
 8. Process according to claim 7 in which extraction of the antibiotics from the culture medium is effected with the medium at pH 7 to 7.5.
 9. Process according to claim 7 in which 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are isolated from their orGanic solution by concentrating the solution under sub-atmospheric pressure and precipitating the antibiotics from the concentrate by addition of hexane. pg,39
 10. Process according to claim 7 in which 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP are isolated separately from the organic solution by chromatography.
 11. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises an antibacterially effective amount of at least one of 23,671 RP and 23,672 RP in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the said antibiotic(s) being present in an amount of 0.5 to 95percent by weight of the composition. 